Jerkens wants to wait for Jockey Club Gold Cup with Effinex

Edited Press Release

Tri-Bone Stables' Effinex came out of his fourth-place finish in the Whitney Stakes (G1) in good order, and trainer Jimmy Jerkens reports the five-year-old's next start has yet to be determined.

"We haven't really decided what we're going to do next," Jerkens stated. "It's tempting to run in the Woodward (Stakes [G1] on September 3), but I don't know. We'll have to see what (racing manager) Russell (Cohen) wants, but if it was up to me I'd like to wait for the ($1 million Jockey Club) Gold Cup ([G1] on October 8 at Belmont Park), I really would.

"You can't ever write anything off these days, though. If your horse is doing super good you take a shot. It's certainly on the table, but we're leaning towards not (running)."

Jerkens was pleased with the effort Effinex put forth. He earned a 102 BRIS Speed rating despite racing wide with Mike Smith, who felt the son of Mineshaft wasn't entirely comfortable with the footing.

"He says that a lot about him, it may just be the way he's put together, his mechanics, you know, the back doesn't follow the front," Jerkens noted. "Listen, coming off a mile and a quarter race (his second straight win in the Suburban H. [G2]) where the race is so deliberate, to be chasing a fast pace like that where you're losing ground it's hard. I loved how he made a second effort right at the very end. It even surprised Mike, I think. He got beat an inch for third, but it just shows how classy he is. He's never done."

In other news from the Jerkens barn, Unified has been taken out of training after suffering his first loss when finishing fifth in the Pegasus Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on June 19. The Centennial Farms colorbearer won the Bay Shore Stakes (G3) and Peter Pan Stakes (G2) in the spring.

Jerkens has another promising three-year-old from Centennial Farms in Adulator, who stretched out successfully to 1 1/8 miles in a first-level allowance Friday for a one-length victory.

Adulator benefited from a rail-skimming ride by John Velazquez, who was aboard the Flatter colt for the first time.

"You could tell by his other races he didn't really want to be rushed off his feet – he acted like he resented it a little bit," Jerkens said. "He worked a gorgeous mile here a week ago. It worked out just like Johnny said – he's 'going to come running out of there and make the speed horses outside run if they want to get the lead and cross over, and then I can take it easy,' and that's exactly what happened.

"We'll see how he handles this race first, see how he comes out of it, and look ahead a little bit from there."

Effinex photo courtesy of NYRA/Susie Raisher/Adam Coglianese Photography